Tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning appliance

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, the tool holder ( 10 ) comprising attachment means ( 12, 14 ) for attaching the tool holder ( 10 ) to the vacuum cleaner and tool receiving means ( 22 ) for receiving at least one tool ( 30, 32, 34 ), wherein the attachment means ( 12, 14 ) are adapted such that the tool holder ( 10 ) is attachable directly to the hose ( 16 ) at any point between the main body and the wand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or othercleaning appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many vacuum cleaners operate in the cylinder mode, that is to say thatthe dirty air inlet is located at the end of a wand which is connectedto the main body of the vacuum cleaner by a flexible hose. Dirty air isdrawn into the dirty air inlet by means of a fan driven by a motor, bothof which are located in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. The dirtyair inlet is normally formed by a cleaner head, but there are times whenthe cleaner head is inappropriate and the user of the vacuum cleanerrequires to replace the cleaner head with a tool more appropriate to thetype of cleaning being carried out. The most common types of tool are abrush tool (incorporating a ring of bristles surrounding a suctioninlet), a crevice tool (comprising a slim, elongate suction pipesuitable for providing access into comers and other places difficult toaccess) and a stair tool (consisting of an angled inlet suitable for useon stairs). In many cases, these tools are carried on the main body ofthe cleaner itself. This can be inconvenient for the user, particularlywhen the user is elderly or disabled. It would be more convenient tolocate the tools more readily to hand.

Various proposals have been made in which the tools for a vacuum cleanerare carried by a tool holder in the vicinity of the portion of the wandor hose normally gripped by the user during use. One such proposal isset out in European Patent Application No EP 0 747 000A. However, thedevice disclosed in this publication has several disadvantages. Firstly,the tools are stored directly on the handle which makes the handle bulkyand unwieldy. Secondly, each of the tools must be placed in a speciallyshaped recess and therefore care must be taken to ensure that each toolis correctly placed. The construction is inconvenient and can beexpensive to add to an existing vacuum cleaner. Because of the fixedposition of each tool with respect to the handle, one or more of thetools is also less readily accessible by a user than others.

Another proposal for carrying tools on a vacuum cleaner is set out in UKPatent No 1 460 119. In this document, a dedicated tool carrier isdesigned to be affixed to the fitting which connects the hose to themain body of the vacuum cleaner. Because the tools are carried so closeto the main body, there is no advantage over other pieces of prior artin that the user of the vacuum cleaner must make a considerable effortto locate the correct tool before attaching it to the wand forappropriate use. An arrangement for retaining the free end of the hoseof a vacuum cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,789.

None of the prior art proposes a tool holder for holding the tools on avacuum cleaner which can be positioned at a convenient point away fromthe portion of the wand normally gripped by the user but still in aconvenient location. Furthermore, none of the prior art discloses a toolholder which can be positioned at one of a number of locations so thatthe tools are convenient to any specific user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a toolholder for a vacuum cleaner which overcomes the disadvantages specifiedabove. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toolholder which is more versatile and able to be adapted to the needs ofindividual users. A further object of the invention is to provide a toolholder to which tools can be easily attached and from which tools can beeasily released.

A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or othercleaning appliance according to Claim 1. The ability of the tool holderto be attached directly to a flexible portion of the hose at any pointbetween the main body and the wand allows the tool to be positioned moreconveniently for any one user. Preferably, the tool can be positioned atany one of a number of points between the main body and the wand. Thisallows the user complete control over the position of the tool holderalong the hose. Thus any user can position the tool holder according totheir individual requirements. Furthermore, if desired, more than onesuch tool holder can be located on the hose so that a large number oftools can be carried ready for use by the user of the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the tool receiving means comprise at least one peg or socketfor slidably receiving the tool and further retaining means forretaining a tool on or in each of the at least one peg or socket in asnap-fit manner. This provides a simple construction which is easy touse and which does not require further tools or awkward manipulations torelease the tool from the tool holder. The simple tongue and groovearrangement of the retaining means is a particularly simple andeffective arrangement. Further preferable and advantageous features areset out in the subsidiary claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of a tool holder according to the invention will now bedescribed in detail by way of example only and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line II—II of FIG. 1 andshowing the position of the tool holder with respect to a hose of avacuum cleaner;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool holder of FIGS. 1 and 2illustrating a method of attachment of a variety of tools; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a possible position of the tool holder of FIGS. 1 to3 on the hose of a vacuum cleaner when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The tool holder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a centralcylindrical sleeve 12. The cylindrical sleeve 12 is open at its upperend 12 a and at its lower end 12 b. Three equispaced projections 14extend inwardly just inside the open upper end 12 a of the cylindricalsleeve 12. Each projection 14 has a smooth contour although it isgenerally triangular in cross section with a rounded inner edge (seeFIG. 2). Each projection 14 could alternatively be semi-elliptical orsemi-circular in cross section.

The inner diameter of the cylindrical sleeve 12 along the majority ofits length is a little greater than the outer diameter of the hose 16 ofthe vacuum cleaner to which the tool holder 10 is to be attached. Atypical hose diameter is 40-50 mm. The internal diameter of the sleeve12 along the majority of its length is between 2 mm and 10 mm greaterthan the diameter of the hose 16. The projections 14 extend radiallyinwardly towards the longitudinal axis 18 of the tool holder 10 suchthat, when the tool holder 10 is located on the hose 16, the projections14 project radially inwardly between the convolutions of the telescopichose 16. The projections 14 thus engage with the hose and prevent thetool holder 10 from moving axially along the hose 16.

However, the projections 14 are dimensioned so as to allow the hose 16to be pulled through the cylindrical sleeve 12 if desired. The user ofthe vacuum cleaner may grasp the hose 16 and apply a moderate force soas to allow the hose 16 to distort and slip past the projections 14. Inthis way, the tool holder 10 can be positioned on the hose 16 at anyrequired point between the wand the main body containing the motor andthe fan. The projections 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 lie on an annularpath.

In an alternative embodiment, the projections can be located so thatthey lie on a helical path. The helical path is then adapted to coincidewith one complete turn of the convolutions of the hose. This reducesdistortion of the hose when the tool holder is located on the hose. Inorder to adjust the position of the tool holder, either the hose can bepulled through the tool holder as described above or, alternatively, thetool holder can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the hose inorder to “screw” the tool holder along the hose.

At the upper end 12 a of the tool holder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, anannular web 20 extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical sleeve12. Equispaced about the axis 18 and attached to the annular web 20 arethree tool-receiving pegs or spigots 22. Each peg or spigot 22 consistsof a cylindrical member 22 a closed at its upper end by an inclined base22 b. The inclined base 22 b extends radially outwardly beyond thecylindrical member 22 a in the manner of a lip 22 c. Each peg or spigot22 is spaced from the cylindrical sleeve 12 so that a gap is formedbetween the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the cylindrical member 22 a. Thepurpose of the gap 24 will be described below. Three recesses orapertures 26 are formed in the cylindrical sleeve 12 at the points atwhich the cylindrical sleeve 12 approaches each peg or spigot 22. Again,the purpose of these recesses or apertures 26 will be explained below.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the tool holder 10 is able toreceive a plurality of tools 30,32,34. In the illustration, tool 30 is abrush tool, tool 32 is a stair tool, and tool 34 is a crevice tool. Ineach case, the tool 30,32,34 has an open cylindrical socket 36 by meansof which the tool 30,32,34 can be attached to the remote end of the wandof the vacuum cleaner for cleaning purposes. The dimensions of thesocket 36 are therefore dictated by the dimensions of the end of thewand of the vacuum cleaner. An annular tongue 38 extends around eachsocket 36 and projects radially outwardly therefrom. The annular tongue38 is spaced from the open end of the socket 36 in each case. Theannular tongue 38 is made slightly resilient.

In order to locate one of the tools 30,32,34 on to the tool holder 10,the socket 36 is introduced over one of the pegs or spigots 22. Thesocket 36 is received into the gap 24 between the cylindrical member 22a of the peg or spigot 22 and the cylindrical sleeve 12. The size of thegap 24 must be sufficient to allow this to happen and is thereforedependent upon the thickness of the wall of the socket 36. The open endof the socket 36 slides over the peg or spigot 22 until it abuts againstthe lip 22 c of the inclined base 22 b. Further sliding movement of thetool 30,32,34 with respect to the peg or spigot 22 is thereby prevented.The position of the annular tongue 38 with respect to the open end ofthe socket 36 is such that the annular tongue 38 projects into therecess or aperture 26 in the cylindrical sleeve 12 when t he open end ofthe socket 36 abuts against the lip 22 c. The size of the gap 24 istherefore also dependent upon the dimensions of the annular tongue 38.The resilient nature of the annular tongue 38 allows a snap-fitco-operation between the annular tongue 38 and the recess or aperture26. As soon as the annular tongue 38 has been located in the recess oraperture 26, the tool 30,32,34 is prevented from sliding freely off thepeg or spigot 22. The tool 30,32,34 is thereby held securely until theuser of the vacuum cleaner requires to remove the tool 30,32,34 from thetool holder 10. Moderate pulling of the tool 30,32,34 in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis 18 will cause deformation of theannular tongue 38 which then releases itself from the recess or aperture26 and allows the tool 30,32,34 to be slid off the peg or spigot 22.Until this happens, the tool 30,32,34 is firmly held on the tool holder10.

Each of the tools 30,32,34 incorporates a socket 36 and annular tongue38. Since the pegs or spigots 22 and the recesses or apertures 26 areidentically formed in each case, any one of the tools 30,32,34 can besimply and easily located on the tool holder 10 in any one of a numberof positions. In the embodiment shown, three pegs or spigots areprovided. It will be appreciated that a different number of pegs orspigots can be provided if desired. It will also be appreciated that theexact configuration of the means which retain the tools 30,32,34 on thetool holder can be varied; for example, the cylindrical sleeve 12 couldcarry an annular projection instead of recesses or apertures, whilsteach tool 30,32,34 could incorporate recesses or apertures. The effectwould be exactly the same. It will be appreciated that a similar effectcan be achieved by the peg or spigot 22 being made slightly resilient inthe area of the annular web 30 so that each peg or spigot 22 can bemoved away from the cylindrical sleeve 12 sufficiently far to allow theannular tongue 38 to be introduced to or removed from the recess oraperture 26. In this case, the annular tongue 38 need not be resilient.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the tool holder 10 can be attached to thehose of a vacuum cleaner and tools conveniently stored thereon at anyposition convenient for the individual user. Furthermore, moderatepulling of the hose 16 or “screwing” of the tool holder 10 about thehose 16 causes the position of the tool holder 10 to be adjusted atwill. This means that the individual user of the vacuum cleaner canensure that the tool holder is positioned conveniently for their ownneeds. The identity of each tool receiving means avoids the need toinspect the tool. holder before introducing any one tool to the holdersince any of the tools can be held and retained by any one of the toolreceiving means.

It will also be appreciated that more than one tool holder 10 can bemounted on the hose 16 of any vacuum cleaner. In the event that thenumber of tools commonly used by an individual user of the vacuumcleaner exceeds the number of tools capable of being retained by asingle tool holder, a second, or even a third, tool holder can beintroduced. The tool holder 10 would normally be introduced to the hoseby detaching the hose from the main body of the cleaner and merelysliding the end of the hose through the cylindrical sleeve 12. Theapplication of a moderate force or screwing action will bring the toolholder 10 to the desired position. The tool holder 10 will be positionedtaking account of any further tool holders which might need to beintroduced to the hose.

Conveniently, the tool holder 10 is manufactured from a lightweightplastics material by injection moulding. Manufacturing the tool holderfrom a heavy material would, of course, add to the weight to be carriedby the user and may in some cases detract from the maneuverability ifthe vacuum cleaner wand. However, the tool holder 10 must be ofsufficient strength to withstand being carried by the vacuum cleanerhose during normal use of the vacuum cleaner, and also being stored whenthe vacuum cleaner is not in use.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the precise features ofthe embodiment described above. Various modifications and alternativeswill be apparent to a skilled reader. Specifically, it is recognizedthat, whilst the specific embodiment described above relates to a vacuumcleaner, there are other cleaning appliances which utilize tools andincorporate hoses and this invention is as applicable to theseappliances as to vacuum cleaners.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or othercleaning appliance having a main body, a wand, a hose extendingtherebetween and at least one tool removably attachable to the end ofthe wand remote from the hose, the tool holder comprising attachmentmeans for attaching the tool holder to the vacuum cleaner andtool-receiving means for receiving at least one tool, wherein theattachment means are adapted such that the tool holder is attachabledirectly to a flexible portion of the hose at a point between the mainbody and the wand.
 2. A tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetool holder is attachable to the hose at any one of a number of pointsbetween the main body and the wand.
 3. A tool holder as claimed in claim1, wherein the attachment means comprise a cylindrical sleeve forsurrounding a portion of the hose and at least one inwardly extendingprojection for locating between adjacent ribs of the hose.
 4. A toolholder as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of equispacedprojections are provided.
 5. A tool holder as claimed in claim 4,wherein the projections are located on a helical path.
 6. A tool holderas claimed in claim 5, wherein the convolutions of the hose are helicaland the tool holder can be moved along the hose by rotation about thelongitudinal axis of the hose.
 7. A tool holder as claimed in claim 4,wherein the projections are located on an annular path.
 8. A tool holderas claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each projection is adapted ordimensioned so as to allow the hose to be pulled through the cylindricalsleeve on application of a moderate force to the hose, and to preventsuch relative movement on release of the said moderate force.
 9. A toolholder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool-receiving means compriseat least one peg or socket for slidably receiving a tool, and retainingmeans for retaining a tool on or in each of the at least one peg orsocket in a snap-fit manner.
 10. A tool holder as claimed in claim 9,wherein the retaining means comprise a groove or tongue for receiving acorresponding tongue or groove formed on the respective tool.
 11. A toolholder as claims in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprise acylindrical sleeve for surrounding a portion of the hose and theretaining means are located on the cylindrical sleeve.
 12. A tool holderas claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one tool is received by thetool-receiving means, the or each tool extends generally parallel to andalongside the hose.
 13. A tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetool-receiving means are capable of receiving a plurality of tools. 14.A tool holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tool-receiving meansare capable of receiving three tools.
 15. A tool holder as claimed inclaim 13, wherein when in use the tools are received by thetool-receiving means, the tools are equispaced about the hose.
 16. Atool holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tool-receiving means forreceiving each tool are identical so as to allow any one tool to bereceived in any one of a plurality of different positions.
 17. A vacuumcleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, furthercomprising a tool holder according to claim 1 attached to the hosethereof.
 18. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 17, further comprisingat least one tool, wherein the or each tool has a cylindrical sleevereceivable by the tool-receiving means of the tool holder and an annulartongue extending around the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve. 19.A vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween,farther comprising a plurality of tool holders according to claim 1attached to the hose thereof.